Banking

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk to financial stability of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relaxing proposed capital requirements to support derivatives dealing by major investment banks and to defer introducing other requirements for banks to set aside more capital against derivatives.

Lord Sassoon: The UK fully supports the work of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision to strengthen the market risk framework, and to require banks to hold significantly more capital against their trading book activities, including derivative dealing by major investment banks. As a result of these revisions, the Basel Committee has estimated that market risk capital requirements will increase by three to four times for large internationally active banks. The Basel Committee has agreed a co-ordinated start date of no later than 31 December 2011.

Banking

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes have been made to bank capital requirements since September 2008 as a result of decisions made by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision; and on what date those changes were implemented.

Lord Sassoon: The UK implements internationally agreed Basel Committee on Banking Supervision standards through the Capital Requirements Directive. The UK implemented the Capital Requirements Directive on 1 January 2007. However, since then, no new capital requirements have been placed on banks as a result of decisions made by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
	However, in addition to proposals made by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision the European Union has adopted the Capital Requirements Directive II. The Capital Requirements Directive II was adopted in October 2008 and will come into force on 31 December 2010. The Capital Requirements Directive II improves the regulatory framework in several areas including: the large exposures regime, the definition of capital, supervisory arrangements and the treatment of securitisations.
	In response to the financial crisis the Basel Committee agreed reforms to strengthen the capital requirements for the trading book and re-securitisations. These reforms are to be implemented no later than the end of 2011. The Basel Committee is currently working on the package of reforms known as Basel III, which the G20 aims to have in place by the end of 2012. The Government strongly support the work of the Basel Committee.

BBC

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to discuss with the BBC whether the corporation will make spending reductions of 25 per cent over the next four years to match reductions in central and local government expenditure.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Under the terms of its charter and agreement, the BBC is operationally independent of Government and there is no provision for Government to intervene.
	The BBC should be prepared to defend all expenditure decisions it makes and demonstrate value for money.
	The chair of the BBC Trust set out his commitment to financial responsibility and efficiency in a speech on 30 June.

BBC

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the BBC can access public funds in meeting its pension liabilities.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The BBC may use licence fee revenue to meet its pension liabilities.
	The BBC announced its proposals for the future of the BBC pension scheme on 29 June.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo about the number of alleged political assassinations.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are deeply concerned by the violence against human rights defenders, parliamentarians, journalists and members of civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We follow cases of concern very closely and will continue to press the Government of DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet their responsibility for protecting human rights and freedom of expression.
	Most recently our ambassador to DRC raised our concerns at the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya with government officials and the DRC Foreign Minister.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo about the number of journalists in prison and the treatment of political and human rights activists by security forces.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are deeply concerned at the intimidation and violence faced by human rights defenders including journalists, parliamentarians and civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We follow cases of concern very closely and will continue to press the Government of DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet their responsibility for protecting human rights defenders, journalists, parliamentarians and civil society. Most recently the Minister for Africa issued a statement of concern at the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya and our ambassador followed this up with the DRC Foreign Minister.
	We regularly raise these issues with the Government of DRC and follow up systematically.
	We are also providing practical support to ensure that human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society are able to carry out their work. We have appointed a liaison officer and made their contact details available to local non-governmental organisations (NGO) and civil society. The UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) Protection Unit also provides protection services to those in danger including relocation and advice on personal security.
	We also provide £11 million to a media fund jointly administered with France and Sweden to support professionalisation, regulation, and the economic viability of the media in DRC. Funding goes to local media organisations and NGOs including Journalists in Danger which campaigns for freedom of the press.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in relation to the treatment of Congolese journalists and political and human rights activists.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are deeply concerned at the intimidation and violence faced by human rights defenders including journalists, parliamentarians and civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We follow cases of concern very closely and will continue to press the Government of DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet their responsibility for protecting human rights defenders, journalists, parliamentarians and civil society. Most recently the Minister for Africa issued a statement of concern at the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya and our ambassador followed this up with the DRC Foreign Minister.
	We regularly raise these issues with the Government of DRC and follow up systematically.
	We are also providing practical support to ensure that human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society are able to carry out their work. We have appointed a liaison officer and made their contact details available to local non-governmental organisations (NGO) and civil society. The UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) Protection Unit also provides protection services to those in danger including relocation and advice on personal security.
	We also provide £11 million to a media fund jointly administered with France and Sweden to support professionalisation, regulation, and the economic viability of the media in DRC. Funding goes to local media organisations and NGOs including Journalists in Danger which campaigns for freedom of the press.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had in the United Nations Security Council and the European Union about the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK as a permanent member of the UN Security Council played a key part in negotiations on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1925, the renewal of the mandate for the UN Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUSCO). UNSCR 1925 mandates MONUSCO to provide logistical support for the DRC elections which are scheduled to take place in 2011.
	We work closely with our EU partners in DRC on a range of issues including the political situation in DRC. Recently we co-drafted with the EU and the UN a letter to the DRC outlining necessary election benchmarks which the Government of DRC need to address.
	We remain active in both organisations on these issues.

Fuel Prices

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the extra cost of a litre of petrol as a result of the proposed VAT increase; what is the current level of road fuel duty per litre; and what would the current average price of petrol be without taxation.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the level of (a) duty, and (b) VAT on aviation fuel.

Lord Sassoon: Fuel duty rates on road fuels are currently 57.19p per litre. In mid June 2010 unleaded petrol was on average 117.9p per litre as detailed in the Department of Energy and Climate Change's latest quarterly energy prices publication of 24 June 2010. Excluding VAT and fuel duty, the current average price of petrol would be 43.15p per litre. VAT is levied at the standard rate on the base petrol price plus the fuel duty.
	It is not possible to state with certainty what the extra cost of a litre of petrol will be as a result of the proposed VAT increase as retail road fuel prices in January 2011 will be subject to prevailing market conditions.
	Aviation turbine fuel used in private pleasure flying in turbine powered aircraft is subject to duty at the same rate as road diesel at 57.19p per litre. Aviation gasoline used in piston powered aircraft is subject to duty at 38.35p per litre. VAT at 17.5 per cent is applicable to retail sales of road fuels and aviation fuel used for commercial flights within the UK and private pleasure flying. VAT at 20 per cent will be applicable from 4 January 2011 in the same instances.

IRA

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Shutt of Greetland on 29 June (WA 268), why they do not have details about the number of people killed and injured by Semtex explosives provided by the Government of Libya to the IRA; and how they will pursue compensation from the government of Libya without such details.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The department does not hold this sort of detailed information.
	The pursuit of compensation from the Government of Libya is a private matter-the role of the Government have been to facilitate contact between the campaign and the Libyan Government.

Museums and Galleries

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering introducing entrance charges to national museums and galleries to offset any reduction in Government funding; whether they will discuss with trustees of such institutions reintroducing entrance charges; and, if charges are introduced, whether the level of charges and any concessions will be determined by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or by the trustees of the institution.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: No, the Government are not considering introducing entrance charges to national museums and galleries.

Northern Ireland Office: Taxis

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much officials of the Northern Ireland Office claimed in expenses for the use of taxis in (a) March 2009 and (b) March 2010.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The process would require a manual investigation of all travel and subsistence forms submitted by staff for these two calendar months.
	It should also be noted that policing and justice functions were devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 12 April 2010. The Northern Ireland Office is now differently configured.

Olympic Games 2010

Lord Bates: To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives they introduced in response to signing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/4 of 19 October 2009 about observing the Olympic Truce in respect of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The UK co-sponsored the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/4 of 19 October 2009 because we supported Canada's ambition to promote the contribution that sport can make to peace, including through the Olympic Truce.
	As the host country for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, Canada sought to promote the contribution that sport can make to peace, including through the Olympic Truce. The UK co-sponsored it to support Canada's ambition, and to recognise our role as host country for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 on the number of Roman Catholics recruited to the police force in Northern Ireland; and whether they have plans to review the provisions of the Act.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Roman Catholic composition in the PSNI regulars currently stands at 29.05 per cent, compared to 8.3 per cent prior to the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. This represents good progress towards a more representative police force. The temporary provisions of the Act that allow for recruitment on a 50:50 basis are enacted by Order, which expires at the end of March 2011.

Rats

Lord Swinfen: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they or the European Union have plans to alter the content of rodenticide.

Lord Freud: The European Union has plans to encourage less hazardous rodenticides through a proposed new EU biocides regulation which would require changes in certain component substances of rodenticides.
	One of the purposes of the new regulation is to exclude the use of rodenticides containing active substances with particular hazards such as carcinogens, mutagens, substances toxic to reproduction, and substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT). However, recognising the wider public heath and socio-economic harm that can result if effective rodenticides are not available, the proposal also provides a mechanism for such rodenticides to be used where certain risk and socio-economic criteria are met.

Unemployment

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many job vacancies were notified to Jobcentre Plus in (a) each English region, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, and (d) Northern Ireland, in (1) each quarter of 2009, and (2) the first two quarters of 2010.

Lord Freud: The available information is in the table below. Information is not available in respect of Northern Ireland as this is a devolved matter, which is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department for Employment and Learning.
	
		
			 Number of Notified Job Vacancies(6) in each Region of England, Wales and Scotland by available quarters 2009-10 
			 Quarter/Region 2009 Jan-Mar 2009 Apr-Jun 2009 Jul-Sep 2009 Oct-Dec 2010 Jan-Mar 2010 Apr-May(6) 
			 East 57,238 66,959 83,742 85,759 70,905 61,958 
			 East Midlands 47,494 60,704 74,263 85,941 63,844 54,097 
			 London 67,709 76,363 88,182 102,850 81,087 65,077 
			 North East 39,868 42,573 44,052 44,321 39,427 32,329 
			 North West 94,361 103,580 122,904 140,593 117,915 97,444 
			 Scotland 60,860 69,265 74,155 74,118 60,260 49,931 
			 South East 79,841 90,083 107,247 117,386 101,422 86,613 
			 South West 57,974 69,277 80,191 85,384 72,189 61,128 
			 Wales 31,097 40,031 49,773 56,364 42,925 35,116 
			 West Midlands 63,314 77,812 92,796 107,857 81,281 76,124 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 63,022 68,751 83,098 84,289 73,479 60,935 
		
	
	Source: Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System
	Notes:
	1. These are not whole economy figures. Coverage relates just to vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus and as such represent a market share of vacancies throughout the whole economy. This proportion varies over time, according to the occupation of the vacancy and industry of the employer, and by local area. Comprehensive estimates of all job vacancies (not just those notified to Jobcentre Plus) are available from the monthly ONS Vacancy Survey since April 2001, based on a sample of some 6,000 enterprises. However, the ONS survey is currently designed to provide national estimates only.
	2. To provide a geographic breakdown, in most cases the postcode of the actual location of the job is used to allocate the vacancy to a local area. Where this is missing or invalid, the employers' postcode or the postcode of the local Jobcentre Plus office is used.
	3. These figures are published at www.nomisweb.co.uk.
	4. Interpretation of this data needs to take account of changes in recent years to Jobcentre Plus procedures for taking and handling vacancies. These figures are not fully comparable over time and may not indicate developments in the labour market. A more detailed explanation is available on the nomis website.
	5. Data show newly notified vacancies to Jobcentre Plus.
	6. Most recent available data are May 2010, so only April and May can be given for the most recent quarter.

Unemployment

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of people aged (a) under 18, and (b) 18 to 25, were registered as unemployed in May in (1) each of the English regions, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director-General for ONS, to Lord Roberts of Llandudno, dated July 2010.
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking what percentage of people aged (a) under 18, and (h) 18 to 25, were registered as unemployed in May in (1) each of the English regions, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland. (HL864)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides figures for the number of people registered as unemployed based on claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
	Table 1 attached shows the number and percentage of 16 to 17 and 18 to 24 year olds claiming JSA in each country and government office region in May 2010 in line with the standard age bands available for JSA statistics.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment and unemployment, are available from the NOMIS website at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of persons aged 18-24 and 16-17 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance resident in each of the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in May 2010 
			  18-24  16-17  
			  People % People % 
			 North East 23,375 8.9 210 0.3 
			 North West 54,555 8.0 635 0.3 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 44,655 8.1 565 0.4 
			 East Midlands 30,600 7.1 345 0.3 
			 West Midlands 47,360 9.2 385 0.3 
			 East 29,930 6.0 450 0.3 
			 London 48,840 6.7 425 0.2 
			 South East 36,645 4.9 610 0.3 
			 South West 22,515 4.8 475 0.4 
			 Wales 23,850 8.2 220 0.3 
			 Scotland 37,680 7.8 1,680 1.3 
			 Northern Ireland 16,840 9.2 85 0.2 
		
	
	Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
	Data rounded to nearest 5.